Welcome to the Krewe of Bowlegs Website !!
Ahoy fellow pirates and wenches,
As this year's Captain Billy Bowlegs, I would like to personally welcome you to the Krewe of Bowlegs website. This website is dedicated to sharing information about the Krewe of Bowlegs with its members and visitors. This is the 57th year of the Krewe of Bowlegs and we are proud to carry on this time honored pirate tradition.
The Krewe of Bowlegs was originally conceived to increase tourism by promoting the great qualities of the City of Fort Walton Beach and that still remains a key objective today. In cooperation with the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, we participate in the annual Billy Bowlegs Festival during the first weekend in June. The festival has grown throughout the years and now attracts more than 30,000 visitors including more than 3,000 boats which gather in the Santa Rosa Sound to watch the landing of Captain Billy Bowlegs and his krewe of pirates. The members of the Krewe of Bowlegs strive to make the Billy Bowlegs Festival and other activities entertaining in a manner that preserves the pirate traditions set forth during the past 57 years.
The Krewe of Bowlegs is a social organization focused on having fun and interacting with other Krewes. Each year, the acting Captain Billy Bowlegs chooses a theme and colors which the Krewe of Bowlegs will be recognized by during his tenure. This year's theme is "Slash and Burn" represented by the flaming daggers in this year's logo. The colors selected for this year are Royal Blue, Silver and Black which can be seen in our pirate costumes. In addition to our annual invasion to capture the City of Fort Walton Beach from the Mayor and his Walton Militia defenders, the Krewe of Bowlegs participates in many other parades both in town, across the Southeast and as far away as Minnesota.
The "This Year" button along the left side of this page opens a descriptive area showing pictures and names of the current Captain, his Queen, First Mate and Mistress, and Honor Guard. The "Krewe History" button provides some background about the Krewe of Bowlegs from its inception to the present time including information on William Augustus Bowles, the original Billy Bowlegs. The "Calendar" button provides the Krewe of Bowlegs schedule of activities for the 57th year.
Please enjoy the information provided here and come help us promote the heritage of piracy along the Emerald Coast of Florida. The Krewe of Bowlegs and the residents of Fort Walton Beach encourage you to come visit one of the most beautiful places on earth. We hope you will participate in the activities with the Krewe of Bowlegs and enjoy yourself while you are in the area.
In Preservation of Piracy
Mark Siner
Captain Billy Bowlegs LVII
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Photo by:
Scott Jackson